Grand Canyon Aims to Even Series at Utah After Opening Loss

SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — The Grand Canyon Antelopes look to rebound from a series-opening shutout when they face the Utah Utes in the second game of their three-game set on Saturday evening.

The Antelopes (6-7) were held to just three hits in a 4-0 loss to the Utes (5-5) on Friday night. Grand Canyon will turn to right-hander Nicholas Robb to steady the ship. Robb is coming off a dominant performance last Tuesday, throwing five hitless innings with seven strikeouts in a 7-5 win at Arizona. His previous start, however, was a rough outing against Oklahoma State where he allowed nine earned runs.

Utah, riding the momentum of Friday’s win and a 13-4 rout of Loyola Marymount on Monday, will counter with reliever Dillon Fine as a key weapon. Fine was stellar in that Loyola Marymount victory, recording 10 outs without allowing a hit and striking out four over 3 1/3 innings. He has been effective in two of his last three appearances.

Grand Canyon’s offense, which produced 11 runs in a win over Pacific last Sunday, will need to reignite against a Utah pitching staff that posted its first shutout of the season Friday. Antelopes first baseman Cannon Peery, who drove in two runs in the Arizona victory, will be a focal point.

The Utes’ bats came alive late in their last two wins, scoring a combined 17 runs. Third baseman Daniel Arambula, who had three hits and three RBIs against Loyola Marymount, provides a power threat in the middle of the lineup.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, this contest projects to be a tight one, with a predicted final score of Utah 6, Grand Canyon 5.

The series concludes Sunday and Monday at Utah’s home field. Grand Canyon then returns home to host Rice and Saint Mary’s next weekend, while Utah remains home to face Arizona in a three-game series starting Friday.